A PROFESSIONAL baseballer has been kicked off his US team after shocking footage emerged of him beating his then-girlfriend was aired on a Texas TV station.

Danry Vasquez, playing in the Double-A minor league affiliate of American Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise the Houston Astros at the time, was arrested immediately after the incident.

The sickening footage, captured in 2016, shows Vasquez repeatedly hitting the woman in a stairwell and dragging her down the stairs by her hair.

The case against Vasquez was dropped after he completed an anger management course and paid a fine. No criminal conviction was recorded as the woman declined to press charges.

The incident, first aired by Texas TV station KRIS TV this week, prompted Vasquez’s new team to cut the 24-year-old from their line-up.

The incident happened at Whataburger Field, the home stadium of his former team.

The prosecutor on the case, Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez, defended the decision to only fine Vasquez, saying his hands were tied.

“He had done everything we asked him to do so I was forced to dismiss the case,” Vasquez told KRIS TV.

“It was an assault that occurred, we had all the evidence to prove it we just allowed this individual to hopefully get the training and education so he wouldn’t continue to assault people where he has relationships with.

"I'm hoping Mr Vasquez will be the poster boy for our program and never hurt somebody that he's in a relationship with and only time will tell."

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)